Jessie and Jonathan are back in Colorado, Bella and Melissa are in North Carolina so its just me and John and Zack ( and 6 dogs and too many fish to count). Except for the traffic noise 18 hours a day, police, fire or ambulance sirens at least 5 times in 24 hours, dogs howling in harmony with said sirens and various other enjoyable audio experiences, its quiet here. Mostly. Sorta.
Well, not exactly like Angel Fire. Guess which I prefer?
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Home again, home again....
After a few rather damp days in Oregon ( beautiful, beautiful state, where absolutely EVERYthing is green and growing (including the sidewalks, tops of fences and roofs ) we returned home last night. We spent those days with Josh and LIz ( and Sonic and Moose the poms) and had a good visit. I do love Oregon and their Marionberry Jam is unbelievable and it was great to see the kids but it was good to sleep in our own bed again.
The NM house is coming together but I am glad for the respite prior to the big move. The tenative date is 13 Aug and there is tons to do before then. These will busy weeks!! We still have to make a final decision on the moving company....I am not taking much but what I am taking I would like to arrive in one piece : )
The NM house is coming together but I am glad for the respite prior to the big move. The tenative date is 13 Aug and there is tons to do before then. These will busy weeks!! We still have to make a final decision on the moving company....I am not taking much but what I am taking I would like to arrive in one piece : )
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Leavin on a jet plane...and I am kinda sick of it
It is a hard thing being neither here nor there...and I can not stand planes. Bring this leave that wait for whatever....I just want to be settled again.
Monday, May 31, 2010
In Memory of....
It seems trite and redundant to simply say "in memory of those who serve or have served , those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice " yet how can we not say this?
How can we make it less impersonal and more internal? The words of gratitude have been spoken in this country, not just for a few years or a few decades but for centuries. Since this country was graced by God to come into existance we have had men ready to die fighting for her. Women too...though we most often paid in different ways.
And yes, for those of us of different races it has been different deaths and different fights. Yet we still come to the common denominator that this is our land, that we love this country, that we are American. Maybe we were not born to it....I was and feel blessed to have been so. But my great grand parents were not... nor were my husbands family. No matter where we originate from on this planet, we all originate from Him and we have been made American by His great plan.
We are well and truly blessed. Never, ever forget those who have fought our battles so that we and our children could sleep in peace at night. May the Lord bless them and make His light to shine upon them.
How can we make it less impersonal and more internal? The words of gratitude have been spoken in this country, not just for a few years or a few decades but for centuries. Since this country was graced by God to come into existance we have had men ready to die fighting for her. Women too...though we most often paid in different ways.
And yes, for those of us of different races it has been different deaths and different fights. Yet we still come to the common denominator that this is our land, that we love this country, that we are American. Maybe we were not born to it....I was and feel blessed to have been so. But my great grand parents were not... nor were my husbands family. No matter where we originate from on this planet, we all originate from Him and we have been made American by His great plan.
We are well and truly blessed. Never, ever forget those who have fought our battles so that we and our children could sleep in peace at night. May the Lord bless them and make His light to shine upon them.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Harleys....oops I forgot
Last week saw thousands of motorcycles who do the "Run for the Wall" pass through here. They ride from the west coast to DC to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This week there are thousands here for the DAV Memorial ceremonies marking Memorial Day. They have the 44th Army Band , a flyover with the missing man formation and a candlelight vigil in remembrance of those who have paid the ultimate cost in securing our freedom.
From the moment you enter Moreno Valley, from either Eagle Nest to the north or from Taos Canyon from the west there are large American flags every 100ft. This is one place ( I know there are more) that honors our servicemen, both living and dead, in a very viseral way. Lump in the throat, straight to the heart kind of way. The DAV Memorial is on a hill, shaped like the wings of an eagle , a beautiful but stark reminder of the cost of war.
Never never forget them. KIA,MIA....and the walking wounded. They carry the scars as long as they live...some external and some only God can see. Pray for them, support them and love them. They are truly a gift from God, securing for us our way of life and the freedom to live it.
God bless our Veterans and our active duty personel......THANK YOU!!
From the moment you enter Moreno Valley, from either Eagle Nest to the north or from Taos Canyon from the west there are large American flags every 100ft. This is one place ( I know there are more) that honors our servicemen, both living and dead, in a very viseral way. Lump in the throat, straight to the heart kind of way. The DAV Memorial is on a hill, shaped like the wings of an eagle , a beautiful but stark reminder of the cost of war.
Never never forget them. KIA,MIA....and the walking wounded. They carry the scars as long as they live...some external and some only God can see. Pray for them, support them and love them. They are truly a gift from God, securing for us our way of life and the freedom to live it.
God bless our Veterans and our active duty personel......THANK YOU!!
Hummingbirds and Harleys
We hung a hummimngbird feeder and within hours it was discovered by a host of the little guys. We have seen, and John has taken pictures, of one of the most amazing of God's creatures. They are the smallest of all birds and the only ones who can hover in midair and even fly backwards. Aerodynamic marvels who flash their amazing colors.....brilliant green, gray with a ruby throat but you have to look fast , as they are here then gone in blink of an eye. Some of these birds have to consume up to 5x their own weight every day ( can you imagine having to do that???) just to survive. We have seen many other birds but cant as yet identify them. In time maybe?
There are also scores of chipmunks here. John was in what I will loosely call the "backyard" and everytime he would turn his back one would pop up behind him to see what he was doing. At this point in time the back is a collection of rocks, more rocks and larger rocks. Lots of places to hide.
Havent seen any of the predators who live here....a tree has been marked by bear in the front of the house but no sign of the one who marked it. I am perfectly ok with not meeting him or her.
We have also been told that a male elk runs 7 or 8 females through this area in rutting season but that comes later in the season.
Being outside here is truly being in God's cathedral, the beauty and wonder of His creation is beyond description. The silence is a blessing. I had forgotten how wonderful it is to not hear cars screeching, sirens blaring day and night....only the sounds of His creatures. (Unfortunately hummingbirds sound like hawaii b52 cockroaches and that will take some getting used to!)
I love it here : )
There are also scores of chipmunks here. John was in what I will loosely call the "backyard" and everytime he would turn his back one would pop up behind him to see what he was doing. At this point in time the back is a collection of rocks, more rocks and larger rocks. Lots of places to hide.
Havent seen any of the predators who live here....a tree has been marked by bear in the front of the house but no sign of the one who marked it. I am perfectly ok with not meeting him or her.
We have also been told that a male elk runs 7 or 8 females through this area in rutting season but that comes later in the season.
Being outside here is truly being in God's cathedral, the beauty and wonder of His creation is beyond description. The silence is a blessing. I had forgotten how wonderful it is to not hear cars screeching, sirens blaring day and night....only the sounds of His creatures. (Unfortunately hummingbirds sound like hawaii b52 cockroaches and that will take some getting used to!)
I love it here : )
Friday, May 28, 2010
Dad's visit
After many years estranged, my Dad and I have finally reconnected. This isnt my "birth father" which to me is an amusing term since he was rarely there after the blessed event and pretty much vacated the scene after my 5th birthday. Dad is the guy who raised me...the one who was there , day in and day out, even surviving my teen years and they were not pretty. He taught me about honor and responsibility and love of country. He taught me about being a person of my word. He taught me not to lie.
Then he divorced my mother ( you know the saint? ) .Ok she wasnt a saint but she didnt deserve to get dumped either.
So I was just a tad hostile for a few decades. Just a bit. But our friends Mike and Sheila live in Mesa as does he.
So , if nothing else, it was just plain rude not to see him when we visited them.
So we did.
What I found was the man I used to know, grown wise but lonely. The woman he left my mother for has passed. My mother has passed, God rest her soul. Except for Max, Dad lives alone. Max is an ancient Bichon Frisse (sp?) who is even more spoiled than my dogs and that is saying something.
This past Sunday we got to New Mexico, had one day to unpack and make beds, clean and get food in the house then Dad arrived Tuesday. Dad is a perfectionist and I am quite sure the house fell short of perfect. I did manage to get clean sheets on his bed, wipe down his bathroom, dust the furniture and get clean towels up. Did I mention he is a perfectionist? (coughcough) Oh well, at least the food was decent (stroganoff n salad ) and we got to take him to Zebediahs.
We also got to go to the DAV Viet Nam Memorial with him but it wasnt open to the public ( we still got to walk around it ) as they are getting ready for a big ceremony...Viet Vet's at Zeb's stopped by our table to speak to Dad, find out when he was there and what units he served with. It was good to see him talk about it....he never did in the past.
I am definately sure now why I have such an inferiority complex when it comes to intellect. This man remembers everything. What county we are in, who the politicians are, what the climate is as far as race and religion goes.....you name it and he knows it and thats only the local stuff. I still feel like a dunder head around him but he says he is "easy" with everything. Sure doesnt feel that way to me. Now Max is a different story...hopefully my dogs will be as well mannered when they get here but somehow I dont think so. Ok, I know not. Maybe they will learn since most of the dogs here (except for Dad's) are at least 4x their size. Or not....we shall see what we shall see.
Then he divorced my mother ( you know the saint? ) .Ok she wasnt a saint but she didnt deserve to get dumped either.
So I was just a tad hostile for a few decades. Just a bit. But our friends Mike and Sheila live in Mesa as does he.
So , if nothing else, it was just plain rude not to see him when we visited them.
So we did.
What I found was the man I used to know, grown wise but lonely. The woman he left my mother for has passed. My mother has passed, God rest her soul. Except for Max, Dad lives alone. Max is an ancient Bichon Frisse (sp?) who is even more spoiled than my dogs and that is saying something.
This past Sunday we got to New Mexico, had one day to unpack and make beds, clean and get food in the house then Dad arrived Tuesday. Dad is a perfectionist and I am quite sure the house fell short of perfect. I did manage to get clean sheets on his bed, wipe down his bathroom, dust the furniture and get clean towels up. Did I mention he is a perfectionist? (coughcough) Oh well, at least the food was decent (stroganoff n salad ) and we got to take him to Zebediahs.
We also got to go to the DAV Viet Nam Memorial with him but it wasnt open to the public ( we still got to walk around it ) as they are getting ready for a big ceremony...Viet Vet's at Zeb's stopped by our table to speak to Dad, find out when he was there and what units he served with. It was good to see him talk about it....he never did in the past.
I am definately sure now why I have such an inferiority complex when it comes to intellect. This man remembers everything. What county we are in, who the politicians are, what the climate is as far as race and religion goes.....you name it and he knows it and thats only the local stuff. I still feel like a dunder head around him but he says he is "easy" with everything. Sure doesnt feel that way to me. Now Max is a different story...hopefully my dogs will be as well mannered when they get here but somehow I dont think so. Ok, I know not. Maybe they will learn since most of the dogs here (except for Dad's) are at least 4x their size. Or not....we shall see what we shall see.
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